Sol Moves To Arsenal After Pledge On Vieira

Sol Campbell made his momentous decision to cross the great North London divide and join Arsenal after both he and manager Arsene Wenger had been reassured the Gunners will fight tooth and nail to keep French star Patrick Vieira.

Sol Campbell made his momentous decision to cross the great North London divide and join Arsenal after both he and manager Arsene Wenger had been reassured the Gunners will fight tooth and nail to keep French star Patrick Vieira.

Campbell was convinced that Arsenal still had the clout to compete with Manchester United and the top clubs of Europe who have been drawn into the market for Vieira since the midfield star's reported comments that the Gunners are no longer big enough for him.

Campbell, 26, is also believed to have had huge financial offers from abroad as well as Liverpool.

And, besides provoking the wrath of his former Spurs fans, he will also lay himself open to accusations that, in moving just up the road, he is not brave enough to test himself in foreign climes.

However, it may turn out that this is an even braver decision, and Wenger revealed: "The only reason we want Sol is to help us improve and build our team again.

"We have not won a trophy for the last three years but we have also come a long way in that time and almost got there.

"We have missed a few things but I feel we are now ready to make a strong challenge for everything again."

With the full backing of the Arsenal board, Wenger insists he is far from a position of giving up on Vieira, despite the player's reported remarks in at least one daily newspaper and the clear indication that his agent, Marc Roget, has been offering him around Europe.

Wenger said: "I have read what is in the newspapers, but not one word of it has come from Patrick's mouth.

"He confirmed that to me when I spoke to him on the telephone a few days ago and, as far as I am concerned, he will be reporting back to us for training on July 15.

"That is later than some of the other players because I gave him permission for extra time off because he played in the Confederations Cup for France (in South Korea an Japan) last month.

"Patrick has given five years' commitment and loyalty to Arsenal and I am confident he will do the same next season."

Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein said: "Our position is unchanged. Patrick Vieira is an Arsenal player and is not for sale at any price. What disturbs me is the things that some people are prepared to do in order to buy a player.

"But we are not going to let him walk out on his contract just like that.

"It would send the wrong message and would be letting down all the other clubs in the Premiership who want to keep their players on contract."